How to treat lupus naturally during pregnancy
Lupus is an
autoimmune disease in which your cells and organs are targeted by your immune
system. You may experience pain and other symptoms in your joints, skin, and
various organs.
There are four common
forms of lupus:
- The systemic Lupus Erythematosus can affect many organs and tissues throughout your body.
- Discoid lupus affects the skin.
- Subacute cutaneous lupus is triggered by sunlight.
- The last type is brought on by medication.
Women are more likely
to develop lupus than men. In addition, the disease is more common among
African Americans, Asians, Hispanics, and Native Americans.
How to treat lupus naturally during pregnancy
Unfortunately, there
is no natural cure for lupus during pregnancy. When it comes to pregnancy, you
should wait until the disease is in remission and you feel healthy before
trying to conceive.
How to treat lupus during pregnancy
Lupus pregnancies fall into the high-risk category. Therefore, it is important to consult with
your healthcare team before conception, during your attempt to conceive, and
throughout your pregnancy.
About 3 to 6 months
before conception, your rheumatologist will most likely recommend that you stop
taking medications that may interfere with the development of the fetus.
These drugs are
considered to be of little risk to your baby, and the benefit to you most often
outweighs the risk to your fetus.
Women with lupus may
experience the following complications during pregnancy:
- HELLP Syndrome
- Preeclampsia
- Antiphospholipid antibodies – can cause blood clots, which inhibits the placenta from working properly.
- Intrauterine growth restriction
- Compromised kidney function
- Lupus flare-ups
- Early delivery
- Miscarriage or stillbirth
Neonatal lupus is a
rare condition in which a child develops reversible symptoms such as a rash,
liver problems, or low blood counts. The most dangerous complication that can
occur is congenital heart block, which usually requires the baby to eventually
have a pacemaker inserted.
Since there is a risk
of serious pregnancy complications, be sure to consult with your rheumatologist
and maternity and fetal health specialist throughout your pregnancy.
Your doctors should
monitor and treat you for symptoms of hypertensive pregnancy, thrombophilia,
disease activity, and any other complications that may arise. Also, be sure to
follow all of your doctor's recommendations regarding frequency of visits,
medications, diet, exercise, rest, etc.
While this list of potential pregnancy complications and treatments may seem intimidating, technological advances and a better understanding of lupus have increased your chances of a healthy pregnancy.